Developing vitrimers: next generation reusable plastics. This project aims to develop a new class of advanced multifunctional polymer materials with the potential to underpin significant breakthrough capabilities for soft materials in general. The proposed work will relocate biological catalysts from their native, wet environment to solid organic engineering bio-sourced resins. Suitably selected enzymes will allow creation of polymer-based products that can be fully recyclable, with built-in pro ....Developing vitrimers: next generation reusable plastics. This project aims to develop a new class of advanced multifunctional polymer materials with the potential to underpin significant breakthrough capabilities for soft materials in general. The proposed work will relocate biological catalysts from their native, wet environment to solid organic engineering bio-sourced resins. Suitably selected enzymes will allow creation of polymer-based products that can be fully recyclable, with built-in properties such as self-healing, shape morphing, which are mechanically tunable, and have the ability to be reprocessed/recycled multiple times. This research will initiate a disruptive change in the application of biocatalysts for bio-based polymers.Read moreRead less
Mid-Career Industry Fellowships - Grant ID: IM230100090
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,053,046.00
Summary
Multi material 3D Printing. This project aims to further develop a new 3D printing technique commercialised by an Australian start-up company. Current electronics manufacturing is extremely capital intensive, slow and restrictive in 3D design. The 3D printing method proposed in this application will disrupt the current advanced manufacturing eco system; creating unique methods to unlock advances in diverse markets for example, photovoltaics, printed circuit boards and sensors. The expected outco ....Multi material 3D Printing. This project aims to further develop a new 3D printing technique commercialised by an Australian start-up company. Current electronics manufacturing is extremely capital intensive, slow and restrictive in 3D design. The 3D printing method proposed in this application will disrupt the current advanced manufacturing eco system; creating unique methods to unlock advances in diverse markets for example, photovoltaics, printed circuit boards and sensors. The expected outcomes of this project are to create new commercial opportunities for the next generation of 3D printed electronics. This will provide significant benefits, creating unique capability to manufacture devices in 3D - faster, cheaper and with reduced reliance on global supply chains.Read moreRead less
Smart materials for atmospheric water management and water harvesting. Fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of the globe but uncomfortably over-supplied in other regions. Dehumidifying machines, such as air conditioners, are extensively used in humid climates to enhance human comfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energy intensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered engin ....Smart materials for atmospheric water management and water harvesting. Fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of the globe but uncomfortably over-supplied in other regions. Dehumidifying machines, such as air conditioners, are extensively used in humid climates to enhance human comfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energy intensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered engines inspired by nastic movements in plants to develop extremely efficient dehumidifiers and water harvesting machines. These polymer actuators can help address the auto-acceleration of climate change caused by the increasing use of air conditioners and provide cheap, clean water for remote communities.Read moreRead less
Complementary pairs for next generation self-assembled systems . This project will employ a set of complementary pairings where separate sites fit together at metal ions in a specific fashion orthogonal to other pairings, like two jigsaw pieces, while forming a poor fit with other pairings. These pairings will allow retention and transfer of structural information. In this way, the bulk combination of relatively simple precursors will lead to self-assembled structures with well-defined seque ....Complementary pairs for next generation self-assembled systems . This project will employ a set of complementary pairings where separate sites fit together at metal ions in a specific fashion orthogonal to other pairings, like two jigsaw pieces, while forming a poor fit with other pairings. These pairings will allow retention and transfer of structural information. In this way, the bulk combination of relatively simple precursors will lead to self-assembled structures with well-defined sequence identity. This program will make and use complex abiotic molecules, enhancing outcomes in molecular information storage and transfer, molecular recognition and sensing, chemical transformations, and energy transport events, leading to economic and environmental benefits for Australia in industry and manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Next-generation reaction-environments tunable catalysts for CO2 reduction. This project aims to design and develop next-generation reaction-environments tunable catalysts for active, selective and stable CO2 conversion to higher-value fuels/chemicals. Fundamentally new materials design in combination with modern computational methods and advanced in/ex-situ instrumental techniques will be advanced to develop a series of functional catalysts for customisable CO2 conversion. Expected outcomes incl ....Next-generation reaction-environments tunable catalysts for CO2 reduction. This project aims to design and develop next-generation reaction-environments tunable catalysts for active, selective and stable CO2 conversion to higher-value fuels/chemicals. Fundamentally new materials design in combination with modern computational methods and advanced in/ex-situ instrumental techniques will be advanced to develop a series of functional catalysts for customisable CO2 conversion. Expected outcomes include new understandings of heterogenous catalysis tailorable with reaction environments and innovations in energy conversion and CO2 utilisation applications. These will provide educational and technological benefits for Australia, spanning material sciences, advanced manufacturing, carbon utilisation and renewable energy.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. This Centre aims to manipulate the way light energy is absorbed, transported and transformed in advanced molecular materials. The research programme spans high-throughput computational screening, single molecule photochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy and embraces innovative outreach and commercial translation activities. The Centre plans to capture the knowledge generated as new intellectual property, materials processing know-how, and through the ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science. This Centre aims to manipulate the way light energy is absorbed, transported and transformed in advanced molecular materials. The research programme spans high-throughput computational screening, single molecule photochemistry and ultrafast spectroscopy and embraces innovative outreach and commercial translation activities. The Centre plans to capture the knowledge generated as new intellectual property, materials processing know-how, and through the creation of new employment opportunities. The expected outcomes and benefits include new Australian technologies in solar energy conversion, energy-efficient lighting and displays, security labelling and optical sensor platforms for defence.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100148
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,350,000.00
Summary
Advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technologies for Southeast Queensland. This project aims to establish an advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance capability and capacity at two of Queenslands' leading research intensive universities. The project expects to enhance the scope and productivity of hundreds of research projects spanning natural products, synthetic, medicinal, materials and environmental science. Expected outcomes include smarter science, more productive collaborations and superior res ....Advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technologies for Southeast Queensland. This project aims to establish an advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance capability and capacity at two of Queenslands' leading research intensive universities. The project expects to enhance the scope and productivity of hundreds of research projects spanning natural products, synthetic, medicinal, materials and environmental science. Expected outcomes include smarter science, more productive collaborations and superior research training, leading to innovative solutions to challenging problems that confront science and society. This investment should provide significant benefits in the form of new knowledge across multiple disciplines, informing the design of future medicines, agrochemicals, materials and other products.
Read moreRead less
Self-assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis. This project aims to construct a family of supramolecular metal-containing cage-shaped molecules that possess specialised binding pockets with unique chemical properties that mimic enzymes. Many existing cage molecules contain well-defined three dimensional cavities reminiscent of enzymes' active sites. However, unlike natural systems they do not contain "active" metals with free coordination sites, and this limits their cataly ....Self-assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis. This project aims to construct a family of supramolecular metal-containing cage-shaped molecules that possess specialised binding pockets with unique chemical properties that mimic enzymes. Many existing cage molecules contain well-defined three dimensional cavities reminiscent of enzymes' active sites. However, unlike natural systems they do not contain "active" metals with free coordination sites, and this limits their catalytic ability. This project aims to prepare a large family of robust organic cages quickly and easily, and subsequently incorporate metals containing free active sites that point into the cage cavity. It is expected that this will deliver strong and selective guest binding, and efficient and selective catalysis.Read moreRead less